High Level Thinking Skills on the Nature Trail

Since most of you have seen many, many 

pictures of the Sandhills Farm Life Nature

Trail, I thought I'd use a different approach

today.  I'll focus on two things: 

1) the necessary impact of man on nature 

2) how to use the trail with students or your

own children to stimulate high level thinking

When you approach the trail, you can't miss

Farm Life's septic lift station, which was installed

adjacent to the trail several years ago.

All around the lift station, invasive kudzu is

taking over the giant pines and is encroaching

on the nature trail from three directions.  Of

course, kudzu is not native, and was introduced

in the early 1900's for fighting erosion in the south.

It obviously thrives, but is a threat to native plants.

Also adjacent to the trail are the school's 

dumpsters and an electric power line.

Of course, undergrowth and brush are the

enemy of power lines and must periodically

be removed.  I'm extremely thankful they 

are not using herbicides, which would be

devastating to the stream and wetland

environment.

Nevertheless, the heavy machinery

that does the clear-cutting creates

problems of its own.  These deep ruts

have made an unnatural channel for

an underground spring, rerouting its

waters.  And the lush vegetation which

once drank up those waters is no longer

present, creating scattered pools for

mosquitoes to lay their eggs.  The

muck and mud had a horrible odor.

Thankfully, the sanctuary of the

nature trail itself is in excellent shape.

An hour of mowing and clipping has

it ready for fall strolls.  I invite and

encourage community families as well

as school classes to visit and learn.

Okay, let's enter . . . .

Now for several examples of Q & A to

demonstrate how simple observation can

give mental exercise on the nature trail.

Q:  Are these lovely looking berries edible?

A: NO! This is Pokeweed, and every part

of this plant is deadly poison unless 

specially prepared.

Q: What on earth caused this tree

to be shattered into two pieces?

A: Because the tree is hollow, it

was probably dead for quite some time

 before a strong wind snapped it in two.

Q: What two types of ferns are pictured here?

A: Cinnamon fern in the foreground,

netted-chain fern in the background.

Q: What kind of fern is this?

A: Royal fern, as stately and tall

as its name implies.

Q: Which of the following three-leaved

plants is harmful?

A: Not this one.  It's kudzu, though

it is a nuisance and an invasive plant.

A: Yep.  This is poison ivy, which

a high percentage of people are

sensitive to.  I attempt to minimize

its presence on the trail where walkers

are likely to encounter it, but it is a

native plant and should not be eradicated.

A: This three-leaved plant is Jack-in-the-

Pulpit, a favorite on the trail. (And what's

that bird feather doing on it?)

Q: What plant besides dogwood has

red berries?

A: It's our old friend Jack-in-the-Pulpit!

And no wonder it's spreading all over!

Q: What has devastated the branches of

this tree?

A: Tent caterpillars are voracious eaters

and can defoliate a tree, damaging it

without necessarily killing it.

Q: Were these trees cut by beavers or humans?

A: Humans.  Part of the power line clear-cut.

Q: What kind of animal track is this?

A: Whitetail deer.  Also, the depth of the 

hoof print near the stream indicated the 

deer was landing after a leap.  I proceeded

to the stream bank where I found other

hoof prints at the take-off point.

Q: Why does the stream follow a horseshoe

curve here?

A: Over time, the channels of streams and

rivers change due to erosion of the banks.

Softer soils with less vegetation are more

easily washed away, while rocky soil or

soil held together by strong roots deflect the

 stream's waters to the path of least resistance.

Q: How did this moss-covered log get

across the stream?

A: More than 20 years ago, a massive

tree fell across the stream.  Most of its

huge trunk has now rotted and become 

humus.  Many former students may recall

having to climb over or step over its trunk

to get to big rock.  That is no longer necessary.

But this portion of the trunk remains as a

very unreliable stream crossing.

Q: Why is this portion of the trail so soggy?

A: This was an unintended result of the

clear-cutting by the power company.  The

huge ruts of their machinery (shown earlier)

diverted the path of an underground spring.

And the disappearance of the formerly lush

plant life leaves vastly more surface water.

I plan a minor trenching project to correct this.

Q: How on earth did Big Rock get covered

with all these bushes and vines!?

The power company's machinery, for some

reason, pushed all this underbrush into the

stream and onto Big Rock.

Q: Where did all the underbrush go?

A: I returned for a second workday with my

chainsaw and removed the piles of privet 

(hedgebush), smilax (catbrier or 

greenbriar), and grapevine.  

I carry the scars on my arms.

But Big Rock has been restored to its familiar

look.  With the stream at high water, getting

across is another problem.  I removed three

cinderblocks students had placed in the creek

in attempts to make stepping stones.  They'll

thank me later.

So here's the view from Big Rock's side of

the stream looking back at the nature trail.

I hope you've seen how a simple walk in nature

can stimulate your curiosity and high level thinking.

And it's okay if you don't find all the answers.

Everything's ready and waiting for your visit.

This fall, this winter, or next spring.  Whenever

you visit, you'll be thrilled at this special natural

sanctuary that belongs to all of us.  I'd love

to hear about your visit.